Chatting With Taylor Howell, Star of MTV's Addictive New Show Washington Heights, About Guy Stuff, Nail Art and Reality Crushes

Full of sparkling dialogue it was not, but The Hills had a special place in my heart for its pretty, pretty look and young-striver drama. The good news for me and any other still-pining fans out there: MTV's Washington Heights is starting tonight --and bringing back the whole hot-ambitious-kids vibe, with gorgeous editing to boot.

Shimmering city shots aside, I'm already in love with the Heights crowd. They're fresh, they're honest, and they're intelligent, which is a nice change of pace. (Let's face it: on reality TV, thoughtful minds are about as common as good weaves.) This morning, I caught up with 21-year-old Manhattan College student Taylor Howell, one of the stars, about the show and life in the neighborhood.

So the show starts tonight! How do you feel?

Taylor: I have a knot in my stomach. I think my biggest fear is that people won't be entertained, because we're not throwing water bottles at each other so much. We talk.

Please, we love nothing more than eavesdropping. How'd this all get started?

Taylor: I met [castmember and producer] JP when I was in high school. He and [producers] Pedro and Becky got the idea for the show together. One day I was sitting in class and he called me asking if I'd want to be on this show, and could they film at my house later that night.

Whoa, so things happened fast.

Taylor: Yeah, but at that time I never thought it would become all this. It was two camerapeople and us in my kitchen, talking about what our lives were like. That was almost three years ago. [Editor's note: the kids took that pilot they shot to MTV, who loved it and greenlit the series.]

You have a little back and forth with a guy in the pilot. Were you shy about letting your love life play out on camera?

Taylor: Guy stuff was the hardest. A few times during shooting I tried really hard to talk about my feelings, but it's awkward. That's why I hope there's a season two--because I got more comfortable as time went on.

How did your friends and neighbors react to camera crews following you guys around?

Taylor: Some people couldn't care less. But sometimes you'll see people in the background drift towards being in the background on camera [laughs].

And they probably step it up with the outfits, I'm betting. Did being on the show affect your style?

Taylor: The one thing I tried to do was not repeat outfits, because I go through phases where I'll wear the same sneakers three days straight. We didn't know they were going to use the pilot, so you can see I have on no makeup, I'm wearing sweatpants... now [I look at it and] I'm like "dammit, put some makeup on!"

What's your favorite makeup and beauty stuff to do?

Taylor: I love nail art. The salons up here will do some crazy nail art, but it's like $10 per nail. So recently I was like, screw this--I'm going to start doing it myself. I really love doing animals--for Christmas, I had a blue background with a polar bear, and for one of my friends I did a penguin with a little hat on it.

A-dorable.

Taylor: Yeah, all of my Instagram pics are either my nails or food.

Just the essentials. Speaking of following people on Instagram--are you into reality TV and all its celebs? 'Cause you might get to meet some of them now!

Taylor: I'm somewhat of a reality junkie--I'm obsessed with the Kardashians, Love and Hip-Hop, Basketball Wives. But if I could hang out with someone for a whole day, it'd be Vinnie from Jersey Shore. He's just a sweetheart.

You could show him the Heights! What are some of your favorite spots?

Taylor: I love the marina--they just reopened it, and it has a view looking down the Hudson. There's Buddha Bar, which has a million different kinds of beers.

It sounds like such a great neighborhood, and looks so pretty on the show.

Taylor: When people think of old-school New York where everyone says hi to their neighbors, what they're thinking of is Washington Heights. Downtown, I feel uncomfortable, but when I get on the A train and go uptown I know that no matter where I get off, I'll know exactly where I am. It just feels like home.

Follow Taylor on Twitter and Instagram at @TAYLORIINA, and watch Washington Heights on MTV tonight at 10 pm EST. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, here it is. You guys excited?